BustedKnucklez Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 How much oil dye do you guys use to diagnose a leak? I've used up to 3 of those little bottles of dye and sometimes still couldn't pinpoint it. Will one be enough for such a big oil system. I was just curious what you guys thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 If you are using Tracerline UV dye the ratio is one bottle (1-oz.) per 5 quarts of oil. I have noticed over the years that ratio is not always necessary depending on the fluid it is being added to and the CONDITION of the fluid. For instance transmission fluid allows dye to show with lighter concentrations as does power steering and even coolant. Diesel engine oil always requires 3 bottles in a 15 quart capacity engine and clean oil works best. Really filthy oil with a lot of soot seems to mask the dye.. How do I diagnose a leak? Patiently. If you are using dye, it needs to be mixed with the fluid and it needs time to reach the leak. I have found that dumping the dye directly into the oil fill causes it to slowly migrate into the oil. I will take a quart of oil and dump some out, empty all three bottles of dye into it, put the cap on and shake it up to pre-mix it, then I pour it into the engine. I like to get engines warmed up to operating temperature and actually drive them if the leak is not dripping. This is important with HEUI engines as a high pressure leak might only leak while driving under a load with ICP raised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BustedKnucklez Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 Yeah, thats what I figured. I was working on a CP job and was about to replace a rear main seal only to figure out that it was coming from the injection pump (7.3L) oil feed lines. When I removed the ports the o rings were mangled. I was happy to save this customer a few hundred dollars in an unnecessary repair. I like the patience part of your reply. My first instinct was the rear main seal because of a lack of patience. Thanks. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/notworthy.gif Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 I can't add anything that Keith hasn't already said. Well, other than adding dye and then turning the customer loose to return at some undetermined future date for further inspection is nothing more than a waste of good dye. He wont return until he sees HIS evidence of the leak and by that time there will be dye everywhere you look. FWIW, in my humble experience, one of the most solidly built pieces on any of the Navistar engines has got to be the rear crank seal. I've changed a very few across the 7.3 - 6.0 platforms and those mostly at customer request (we were in there doing other stuff). There are very few leaks on any of these engines (7.3, 6.0 and, apparently, 6.4) that wont wind up with the owner first noticing a "wet bellhousing" - from there, he will do his damnedest to infect everyone with "RMS fever". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shlep Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 Good point on the rear main seals Jim, the only rear main I've ever had fail was on a 99 7.3 that from what I could see was the torque got so hot it actually baked the seal til it was brittle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekanik Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 I agree with the patientce part. Not every customer or service managed understand this. A good blacklight is also very important. Last summer at my last job, I was trying to find a A/C leak with the shop's blacklight that hooks up to the battery terminals and was not finding the source of the leak. A fellow coworker walked up and handed me his blacklight that was the size of a Mag-Light. The leak was very evident with his light. I bought one just like it the next day. I'll try to remember to reply with the brand and model number when I go to work tomorrow. It is really nice. It has a rechargable battery. I really used to like that "Old-School" Rotunda black light that plugged into the wall and got very hot. That thing worked great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DwayneGorniak Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 We still have one of those Rotunda Black lites. It is awsome. We also have that Snap-on piece of crap that hooks up to the battery and you use those ugly yellow old fogey goggles and I must say it is one of the most useless pieces of wasted engineering I have ever seen. I agree Jim, I have changed very few rear main seals on these engines since the Powerstroke was first released. I can probably count the amount on one hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mekanik Posted May 23, 2008 Share Posted May 23, 2008 My blacklight ias a Optimax and it ia about 8 1/2" long. I haven't had any luck with blacklights that hook up to the battery. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/2cents.gif Take good care of that old Rotunda light because they sure don't make them like they used to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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